Photo by Bharath Mohan on Unsplash

Thailand

Chiang Mai

Golden temples in and around the moated Old City, Doi Suthep above town, khao soi and night markets, elephant sanctuaries and Doi Inthanon, Thailand's highest peak.

Best time to visit Chiang Mai

Best months: Feb–Mar

• Jan

  Good

  30° / 16°C · 11 mm rain · Busy

  Peak season with cool mornings and dry sunny days.

• Feb

  Best time

  33° / 17°C · 10 mm rain · Moderate

  Flower festival early in the month; smoky burning-season haze starts to build.

• Mar

  Best time

  35° / 20°C · 20 mm rain · Quiet

  Burning season makes March often the smokiest month, with hazardous air quality; consider avoiding it.

• Apr

  Good

  37° / 23°C · 54 mm rain · Busy

  Hottest month, often still smoky; Songkran water festival (13–15 Apr) is huge here.

• May

  Good

  35° / 24°C · 168 mm rain · Quiet

  Rains arrive and clear the smoke.

• Jun

  Good

  33° / 25°C · 118 mm rain · Quiet

  Green season with afternoon showers; quiet and cheap.

• Jul

  Good

  32° / 24°C · 149 mm rain · Quiet

  Rainy season; lush countryside, but some trekking trails are muddy.

• Aug

  Rainy

  32° / 24°C · 223 mm rain · Quiet

  Wettest month; local flooding is possible.

• Sep

  Rainy

  32° / 24°C · 207 mm rain · Quiet

  Heavy rain continues; the Ping River can flood.

• Oct

  Rainy

  32° / 23°C · 124 mm rain · Moderate

  Rains ease and the high season begins.

• Nov

  Good

  31° / 20°C · 41 mm rain · Busy

  Yi Peng lantern festival and Loy Krathong (November full moon); book months ahead.

• Dec

  Good

  29° / 17°C · 14 mm rain · Busy

  Cool, dry peak season; chilly nights in the mountains.

Typical averages, not a forecast. Weather: en.wikipedia.org.